Coaches

GERRY YOUNG - HEAD COACH BJJ, THAI BOXING & MMA

Qualifications: BJJ 3rd Degree Black Belt, Hapkido Black Belt, Cert 4 in Fitness, Diploma in Remedial Massage, Practitioner of Ortho-Bionomy

Gerry began his martial arts training in Hapkido and started to incorporate BJJ in his training in 2002 with Adam Newton. Gerry has instructed at several gyms including Tigers Eye Muay Thai and BJJ Hobart. Gerry also studied and instructed as a founding mem Hybrid Training Centre, a Mixed Martial Arts gym. Gerry is also the owner and head coach of Derwent Valley Martial Arts in New Norfolk. Gerry was awarded his black belt in BJJ by Adam Newton and Thiago Stefanutti in October 2016, making Gerry one of the first in the state to reach this rank.

In addition to martial arts, Gerry has a passion for functional strength and fitness training. As such he has a long history of kettle bell and barbell training as well as developing goal specific fitness programs.

Gerry has extensive experience coaching all aspects of BJJ, submission wrestling and MMA and has coached dozens of successful BJJ competitors and MMA fighters. Gerry is also an experienced MMA referee and judge.

Gerry is also a massage therapist and Ortho Bionomist working with clients of all ages on a variety of soft tissue and joint issues. As a therapist Gerry is very aware of the effect of the nervous system on our day to day life and so is passionate about creating a safe space for everyone, both on and off the mat.

NEIL CAMPBELL – BJJ COMPETITION TEAM COACH

Qualifications; BJJ 2nd Degree Black Belt

Neil, started BJJ training in 2010 along with training in Muay Thai. Neil took to competition very early and gained experience in BJJ competition as well as MMA. After receiving his Blue Belt under Adam Newton, Neil moved to Melbourne and started to train full time under Thiago Stefanutti at Absolute MMA in Melbourne. During the years through Purple and Brown Belt, Neil gained a reputation as a competitor in both and Gi and No Gi grappling, which included many wins in Australia as well as in Japan at the ADCC trials. Neil returned to Tasmania in 2018 and continued to train and teach classes at Hobart Martial Arts Academy as well as Sorell Martial Arts Academy. In 2019, Gerry and Adam Newton arranged for Thiago Stefanutti to come to Tasmania to celebrate Neil's promotion to Black Belt.

In 2026, Neil's hard work and dedication lead him to win gold at the Pan Pacific Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship in the Black Belt Masters division. Respected by everyone, Neil is a tenacious competitor and a skilled and considerate coach. His expertise in the competitive mind set and strategy are beneficial to everyone at Hobart Martial Arts Academy, where he gives of his experience generously.

RYAN MAZENGARB – BJJ COACH

Qualifications; BJJ 1st degree Black Belt, Judo yellow belt, Luta Livre yellow belt.

Ryan started training judo in high school at Clarence PCYC reaching yellow belt. He discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force in Adelaide. In 2012 he left his career to go travelling through South America. During his nine month journey Ryan trained in brazil, Peru, Colombia and the USA. While in Peru, Ryan trained in Luta Livre, the original rival to Gracie Jiu Jitsu which focuses heavily on wrestling takedowns and is only trained No Gi. Ryan competed in a Luta Livre tournament and was graded to yellow belt. Ryan is an active competitor who has competition experience in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Peru. Ryan was promoted to BJJ Black Belt in 2022 due to his technical understanding, competitive skills and teaching aptitude. Ryan is the first student to be promoted to Black Belt under HMAA Head Coach Gerry Young.

BRAD HUTCHISON - BJJ COACH

Qualifications: BJJ 1st degree Black Belt

Brad started his BJJ training in April 2010 under Adam Newton, Gerry Young and Pete Rogers and has been a regular and dedicated member of the team at HMAA ever since. Brad has a long career of BJJ coaching following on from experience coaching after schools sports programs for kids.

Brad was awarded his Blue Belt by Adam Newton in 2013, becoming the first blue belt to be awarded at Hobart Martial Arts Academy. In 2023 he received the third ever Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt awarded by Gerry Young at Hobart Martial Arts Academy.

Brad has a long career as a successful competitor and is known for his laser focus and technique specialisation. Brad maintained a 2 year undefeated streak and has competed all over Australia.

Brad was the first Mat Devil's coach at Hobart Martial Arts Academy, where he taught countless kids for several years. You can now find Brad teaching BJJ on Tuesday nights. Brad offers experience, knowledge and passion to his students, a perfect fit for Hobart Martial Arts Academy.

SAM COWIE – BJJ COACH

Qualifications: BJJ 1st degree black belt, Judo green belt

Sam began his training with MMA classes under Priscus Fogagnolo in December 2010. After about a year he realised the love for grappling was far stronger than striking, and started attending BJJ classes more frequently. In 2013, Sam started to train in Judo alongside BJJ to improve his competition and takedown game.

From 2014 to 2016, Sam started teaching BJJ to beginners and competed at every competition possible. The highlight of this was winning gold at the Pan Pacific Championships two years in a row. In 2017 Sam joined the Royal Australian Navy and moved first to Victoria, and then to Cairns. He continued to train and compete in BJJ whenever possible, including at sea! In March 2023, Sam was awarded his black belt by Minol Tavares Tutida at Grounded Mat Sports in Cairns. He finally moved back to Tasmania in 2024, and came to train and teach at Hobart Martial Arts Academy and Derwent Valley Martial Arts.

Sam's approach to BJJ is "no nonsense, find the simplest thing that works". Sam shares his skills freely with everyone and brings great experience and leadership to the team.

TIM TRAILL – BJJ COACH

Tim began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2009 under Professor Adam Newton. He was drawn to BJJ while searching for a martial art that was genuinely effective and, as he puts it, once you start looking seriously for that, you inevitably end up at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Over the years, Tim has trained BJJ under Adam, Priscus Fogagnolo and Gerry Young. He has also trained and competed in judo. Tim was awarded his BJJ black belt by Gerry Young in 2024 and continues to train under Gerry’s guidance.

He has competed extensively at state, national and Pan-Pacific levels in both Gi and No-Gi, with numerous podium finishes. Tim coaches all aspects of BJJ but has a particular love for Gi training, stand-up grappling, and teaching fundamentals. His coaching emphasises concepts, structure and understanding why things work, rather than simply memorising individual techniques.

More than 15 years after first stepping onto the mats, Tim is still training, teaching and discovering just how much more there is to learn." Tim has always been a leader and having him coach at Hobart Martial Arts Academy is as beneficial as it was inevitable.

BILLY BURTON - BJJ COACH

Qualifications: BJJ 1st degree Black Belt, Taekwondo Black Belt

Billy started his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in the late 1990’s, attending the first John Will seminar in Tasmania and then went on teach classes at the University and Hobart PCYC. Billy was a pioneer of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Tasmania and in October 1999 became the third Tasmanian to receive his BJJ Blue Belt, following from Adam Newton and Clancy Roberts. In 2004 Billy, along with Adam and Clancy opened Hobart Mixed Martial Arts Academy, the first full time MMA gym in Tasmania.

Billy was one of Hobart Marital Arts Academy Head Coach Gerry Young's first coaches and has been a guiding hand for BJJ in Tassie from it's inception.

After a brief break from the mats, Billy came back in 2015 and since then has received his Purple, Brown and Black Belts from Gerry Young.

Billy teaches lunchtime classes and is always ready with a smile and encouragement for all of his training partners.

JASON COOK - MAT DEVILS JIU JITSU COACH

Qualifications: BJJ Brown Belt

Jason started his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in the mid to late 1990’s when his Tae Kwon Do coach attended the first John Will seminar in Tasmania and over the next couple of decades he drifted in and out of BJJ at various clubs for short stints. In between these short stints of wrestling he went on to a career in Information Technology where after working as a computer technician, a system administrator and a network engineer he is currently employed as a network architect. His current role revolves around drawing pictures that most people don’t understand and nobody thinks are pretty!

Along the way Jason has also developed a lifelong habit of picking things up and putting them back down again. This powerlifting history has resulted in having relatively strong opinions about many strength and conditioning practices in regards to applying force safely and a healthy scepticism of many fitness influencers. As he continues lifting into middle age he is ‘gaining an appreciation’ for the changes necessary to continue training as his bodies recovery mechanisms slow down.

Jason re-started in BJJ in July of 2019 when he brought his children along to the Mat Devils class and Gerry asked him when he was getting back on the mat! In June of 2026 he was awarded his Brown Belt by Gerry at Hobart Martial Arts Academy.

In the second half of 2020 Jason asked Gerry if he could volunteer to assist with the Mat Devils class as he is passionate about the community that has built up around the Hobart Martial Arts Academy and in particular in assisting children to grow and learn something that is both physically and mentally challenging.

CALUM YOUNG - THAI BOXING & BJJ COACH

Qualifications: BJJ Black Belt, Experienced MMA fighter

Calum started his martial arts training in Hapkido and Jiu Jitsu with Gerry Young in 2005 and got serious about training in 2013 at Hobart Martial Arts Academy. He has been the most consistent face in the gym for most of this time. Calum has embraced Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai training making him a favourite in both classes.

Calum has competed many times in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Wrestling and Combat Jiu Jitsu and has had 5 MMA bouts, in 2025 he was promoted to the rank of BJJ Black Belt by HMAA head coach Gerry Young. His focus on technique and his easy going nature make him a perfect fit as a coach at Hobart Martial Arts Academy.

SCOTT CAMPBELL - THAI BOXING COACH

Qualifications: Taekwondo black belt, 14 years Martial arts experience across multiple disciplines including Muay Thai, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA.

Through Scott's younger years he built a foundation in Tae Kwon Do, competing in multiple tournaments, including winning one gold and two silver medals.

As an adult Scott continued his martial arts journey by moving into Boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ training and gained experience competing in Muay Thai and MMA.

That experience has given Scott a reputation for a highly effective fight style with exceptional accuracy and subtle timing.

Scott's fight IQ is very high and is readily shared with all of his students and training partners. Hobart Martial Arts Academy is lucky to have Scott as a Thai Boxing coach.